"YOU'RE REALLY INTO STYLING?" -- DC

Another hands-on styling opportunity came my way! Our Fashion Styling Mentor assigned me to join the team of Preview's Daryl Chang last Sunday. As a fan of the magazine, I was thrilled! I assisted the team in their regular live variety show gig.

DC was her usual fabulous self. Too bad, I have no photos. I had my camera but forgot the memory card (how do you spell S*T*U*P*I*D? Arg.). What makes her more fab -- she was so cool the entire time. To describe the backstage of a live variety show as "crazy" is an understatement. I'm bilib that she never lost her cool despite all the wardrobe mulfunctions and styling demands.

And the highlight for me? We got to chat!

DC: You're really into styling?

Me: I still can't say. I hope to find out after the workshop.

DC: I hope you'll be able to decide soon.

Then I went on asking about Preview. She promised to answer the questions from our class, via email, as soon as she has time. Yey!

Her question -- "You're really into styling?" -- got me thinking. If I were allowed to expound (kaso busy lahat so di pwedeng madaldal diba?) I would have added...

At this point, I'm not yet sure if styling's for me. But what I'm sure of is that I love looking at stylish people (like DC)! I'm a fan of The Sartorialist (even bought the book), The Face Hunter (I'm thinking of buying the book), the Jak & Jil Blog, Sea of Shoes, Preview, and other fashion magazines. I also have a personal goal of pushing my style limits. I always wonder how stylish people put unexpected items together. I'm wondering if it may be learned through the workshop or if the skill is innate. I'm willing to go through the journey to find out.

Is styling my style? We'll find out soon. *wink*

WORKING STUDENT

I have a brand new respect for working students. Noon pa ako bilib sa inyo. But now that I'm in your shoes, lalo pa akong bow. =)

AN AFTERNOON WITH MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER JUN DE LEON

Style School is turning out to be ONE. FABULOUS. EXPERIENCE.

Spent my Saturday afternoon with no less than the country's premiere photographer Jun de Leon! He generously gave our Fashion Styling class two hours of his precious time (For free!) -- sharing stories about his career, giving photography tips, talking about the creative collaboration of photographers and stylists, giving us words of wisdom on life, love and career.

As our styling mentor, Ms. Millet, pointed out we're so blessed. Too blessed. WE. SO. KNOW.

It was an honor to see him in another light -- different from his uber terror image while at work. He was so generous with his knowledge. He was so patient with us. He even pointed out my best angle, hehe. =) Admittedly he said, "Hindi ako ganito kabait pag trabaho."

Among his priceless quotables, I'll share one that I will forever take to heart if I do plan to make a career out of styling -- "Don't be a stylist who simply pulls out clothes, who simply dresses up the talent. The measure of a good stylist is when she can tell a story. As a stylist you have to tell a story."

BREAK A LEG!

The Master suggested we do a "leg story"

hence the tangled legs.

Our Styling Class with Mr. Jun de Leon

at his studio in Bonifacio Global City

Me: Robot?

Photo: not his (hehe);

it was taken by someone from our school,

not a classmate.

Hindi namin afford ang "photo by Jun de Leon."

Abuso na 'yun if kuhanan pa niya kami!

Ms. Millet suggested that we prepare tokens for him. Halos sumakit ulo ko sa kakaisip -- "What do you give Jun de Leon?!" But you know what? He was so sweet when he received our humble gifts (mostly sweets). I got him truffles. I know they're not enough Thank You pero wala namang regalong tatapat sa priceless experience we had this afternoon.

Thank you, Sir. You've inspired us all. We hope we could style for you / work with you one day soon.

MY FIRST WAS WITH AN AZKAL!

My first was with an Azkal!

How many girls can say that? *wink*

But before your imagination runs wild, allow me to be more specific -- my first hands-on STYLING experience was with the Azkals' Team Captain Aly Borromeo!

My styling mentor, Ms. Millet Arzaga, invited me to join an Azkals magazine photo shoot yesterday. (I would have died if it involved the entire team! It was just Aly's shoot -- so yes, I'm still alive, hehe.)

Above: Aly doing Arnis

The other layouts had him totally clothed,

hindi siya naabuso, promise.

LOL.

I won't expound on the fashion layouts, confidential syempre. But the fashion story was mainly Ms Millet's idea. The magazine's Editor-in-Chief, the Art Director and the Photographer gave her a lot of creative freedom for this one. She told me, hindi laging ganun for stylists. The weight of a stylist's role is different for every project.

What big smile?

Di naman ako masyadong masaya. =)

Below: The Philippines National Football Team

led by Team Captain Aly Borromeo (#11)

Below: The Azkals

Ang g-gwapo!

I heart Style School!

Above: The Styling Team

Me,

Ms Millet's Assistant Audrey,

The Azkals' Aly Borromeo,

Make-Up Artist Mayose,

My Fashion Styling Mentor Ms Millet Arzaga

BIRKIN ALTERNATIVE

Can't afford the Birkin (yet)?

An alternative: the canvass version!

Photos from Banane Taipei

I'm eyeing the Champagne Gray version.

STYLE A to ZOE

Hollywood Celebrity Stylist Rachel Zoe's one of the Fashion Stylists I admire (loved how she was able to build her name into a brand!).

Here are some words of wisdom from her book, "A to Zoe," that may prove useful if I do pursue a career in Styling --

1) "Life is too short not to take risks. To glam it up!"

2) A good stylist is a Master of Illusion. Color proportion and even your attitude can make all the difference.

3) What's important: For clients to become more aware of themselves. A Stylist is not there to enforce her point of view but to point clients in the direction of their dreams.

4) The best part of creating style: it's not permanent. It can be changed. Tweaked. Re-created. It all begins with dreaming.

5) Style is more about your eye than your bank account.

MY SCHOOL BAG

Rarampa ka na uli!

I've always wondered when I'd get to use my seven-year old orange bag from Tough/Salsa again. Then Fashion School happened. Naalala ko siya! All the compartments can keep my styling tools, pencils, I.D., tear sheets, and other school supplies organized. Every thing has its place -- pang O.C. ang bag na ito!

Wore a black canvass to give my bag its moment.

Black shirt, Zara

Black bootleg pants, Topshop

Black ballet flats, Zara

Animal-print scarf, Zara

(A cover-up for my recent cautery).

Emerald cocktail ring, Forever21

Orange bag, Tough/Salsa (from a HK trip)

STYLE SCHOOL

Today's Style Session made me zero in on a fashion goal: I want to push my style limits. I'm very safe with my current choices. I hope it's possible to go out of my style box and still be me.

"Above all, remember that the most important thing you can take anywhere is not a Gucci bag or French-cut jeans; it's an open mind." -- GRB

A FASHION FANTASY COMES TRUE!

One of my fashion fantasies is to attend fashion school so I enrolled at the DFW: Designer Fashion Workshops (iAcademy, beside The Enterprise, Ayala Avenue, Makati). I'm living out another dream, YEY!

For the first day of Fashion School, we were told to wear our favorite style. I appreciate different styles but "classic with a twist" is most me. So I came to school wearing something very basic -- a LBD (Little Black Dress) with ballet flats (my footwear of choice). But instead of the usual classic accessories of pearls or diamonds, I wore my green necklace and emerald cocktail ring.

Above:

On my way to school, along one of the Makati walkways.

LBD, Zara

Ballet flats, Zara

Necklace and ring, Forever 21

Black tote, Liz Claiborne

Above: My emerald cocktail ring

(Promise, wala akong stiff neck, hahaha!)

Above: Mannequins galore.

Inside our classroom.

I'm taking up Fashion Styling under one of the country's top and first Fashion Stylists, Ms. Millet Arzaga (check out her site: milletarzaga.multiply.com). Due to the "confidentiality clause" of the workshop, I won't be able to share much about the course's content. But I'll be posting bits and pieces of my personal experience. *wink*

Today's class made me feel like I'm living out a mini-episode of "Project Runway" (minus the bitching I hope). As Ms. Millet said, our class is an interesting mix. Age range: 18 to 40. With backgrounds as diverse as accounting, photography, broadcast, sales; from fashion students to stay-at-home moms! Aliw!

I'm doing this for fun. For me. But if I eventually get the chance to earn from it, why not, chocnut? =)

DFW: DESIGNER FASHION WORKSHOPS

Today, January 29, Saturday, (Manila Time) is the first day of Style School for me! Too excited!

And I have to thank Chuvaness for the info on DFW: Designer Fashion Workshops. I first read about it in 2010. But due to sked conflicts I was able to enroll only this year.

I'm re-posting a part of Chuvaness' most recent entry on DFW, read on.

Designer Fashion Workshops is a group of respected industry experts that have come together to share their years of knowledge in the fashion profession. Jojie Lloren teaches Pattern Making and Draping; Pidge Reyes - Creative Sewing and Garment Sewing; Joey Samson - Fashion Design, Robi Lolin - Fashion Illustration; Millet Arzaga and Noel Manapat - Styling, and Lulu Tan-Gan lectures in Global Fashion and Knitting. Mentor faculty is Inno Sotto for Introduction to Fashion Design, while guest faculty is Roy Gonzales who teaches Advanced Draping.


Inno Sotto lectures

Workshops are designed for high school students who are interested in taking Fashion Design as a major in college, as well as fashion industry professionals who feel the need for additional technical development, such as draping, pattern drafting and basic sewing.


Joey Samson on a field trip with a student

Now DFW is accepting enrollees for their January-March sessions.
As a special treat, mention Chuvaness to get a 10% discount off the tuition fee.
All sessions are held on Saturdays beginning Jan 29, 2011
at iAcademy, 5/F Philfirst Building, 6764 Ayala Avenue, Makati.